The Billionaire's Assistant

Chapter 72

Kat collapsed against the rink's wall with a dramatic sigh, her face red from the cold and exertion rather than embarrassment.

Jove sidled up beside her.

"Are you tired?" he asked, reaching out to place a hand on the small of her back. "C'mon, let's sit."

They had been skating for hours and Kat was far more worn than she realized, forgetting the passage of time as she always did when she was with Jove. They made their way to the first row of cool metal benches that comprised the riser seats surrounding the rink where they'd left their shoes, and Jove helped Kat out of her skates, bringing her feet up to his lap in turn to unite each double knot.

After putting her regular shoes back on Kat sighed against and leaned against Jove, who was still occupied with the task of his own.

"What time is it?" she asked sleepily.

Jove paused to look down at his watch.

"1:32."

Kat nodded, wanting to let her eyes fall shut and curl into him completely.

"I'm really tired."

"You want to go back to the office?" he asked.

Kat nodded, and Jove pulled his cellophane from his pocket, typing out a quick message.

"Alright. You want to go anywhere first?"

Kat shook her head blearily.

"Alright. Someone will be here in a few minutes."

"David?" Kat asked.

"Why are you so intent on meeting David," Jove questioned with a laugh. "David isn't really a chauffeur, he wouldn't do pickups unless he had a reason to."

"I just wanna meet the competition," Kat quipped.

Jove chuckled and moved to stand, holding up Kat's body with his shoulder so she didn't fall sideways when he moved away from her and then offering her a hand and pulling her upwards with him.

They stayed facing each other that way for a moment, his hand around hers, his promises filling her head and coloring her logic, her expectations.

Maybe we could really, truly be together. Maybe I could tell the other members of FES, maybe they would understand, her thoughts called.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked quietly, his voice the same deep, low rumble that had stopped her in her tracks the first time she'd heard it.

A smile that she made no attempt to control crossed her face.

"I don't know," she answered in the same low tone, matching his volume.

"You don't know?" Jove asked probingly.

Kat shook her head.

"I think you know," Jove challenged.

Kat felt her heart begin to pound and tightened her grip on Jove's hand as if to steady herself. She gave the smallest nod, tiny, near imperceptible, and Jove grinned devilishly.

"So are you gonna tell me? Or are you too nervous to ask for what you want?"

Kat took a deep breath, steeling her nerves, and looked at him squarely in the eye in lieu of a response, nearly shaking with nervousness and anticipation.

Jove's grin deepened.

"Come here," he instructed, pulling her even closer to his and bending down to bridge the gap between their bodies, his lips on hers before she realized what was happening.